Tag Archives: durable

Look around and you’ll find all kinds of waders made by all kinds of wader companies. Boot foot. Breathables. Bag style. Chest or hip. The choices are as extensive as your imagination. And, just as there are countless wader brands, there are also countless claims of durability and function. Wader X will last you years of use. Wader Y will be the most comfortable you will ever wear. While you can never be trustful of marketing gimmicks, you can be a savvy shopper and do your due diligence when it comes to making your wader purchase. We at USIA feel our waders stand above the rest. Here’s why:

Made In The USA
This might not be an important detail for some, but for most American outdoor sportsmen, this is a make or breaker. People who care know that buying a product made in the USA helps our country in so many ways. American jobs are created, good paying jobs that allow people to raise families. The money spent in America stays in America, circulating the money supply for more domestic investing. You may not think of this benefit, but keeping things local reduces the shipping, thereby reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned in the process. We all love conservation, don’t we?

Workmanship
The people that build your USIA Waders are professionals who embrace a certain amount of pride in their skills. They aren’t just employees working for a paycheck. We are all outdoor enthusiasts, all focused on the success of our company, and all invested in the quality of our Waders. Most people in the USIA family have been with us for many years, and plan to be with us for many more. When you have that sort of pride in your work, you tend to put out a superior product.

Customization
Most waders you find online or in the sporting goods store are as is. You get what you see. Stock sizes and stock accessories. Maybe you didn’t want the D-rings, or you wanted plastic ones instead of aluminum. Maybe you didn’t want the company logo. Maybe you wanted a shotgun shell holder or a more waterproof pocket. With as is waders, you have no or limited choices. With USIA Waders, you have literally hundreds of possible combinations of color, footwear options, pockets, and other accessories to choose from. The only limits are your imagination.

We Repair
Got a call from a prospective Waders customer the other day. Said he had been looking high and low for a pair of waders that would last him more than one season. He was a little distressed about how his neoprene waders have been developing holes and his DIY repairs have been adequate but he knew he needed a more permanent solution. I was straight with him. Even the most bomb-proof waders will develop leaks over time. Ours is no exception. But our repair services are second to none, and when he found out how inexpensive it is to repair our Waders, he was sold. While we don’t like to see our Waders in for repairs, the reality is that stuff happens. Because of that, we offer full repair services for very reasonable prices.

It goes without saying that when you dive in cold water, you need equipment that is second to none. You are engaging in an extreme sport, and you need your gear to stand up to the extreme challenge. USIA Dry Suits are up to the challenge. We like to call our suits the original in wearable technology, since decades of testing and quality control has gone into the manufacturing process.

At USIA, we aren’t just manufacturers, we are also consumers. We use the products we make. Our president, Kim Johns, aka Captain Kujo, is an Avid fisherman, holds a PADI Master Dive Instructor Certificate, is a US Department of Interior Motorboat Operator Instructor, plus a US Coast Guard licensed inland master/operator of uninspected watercraft for over 20 yrs. He knows his stuff.

And we know our stuff. Since 1983 we’ve been making the best dry suits on the market:

Our most popular dry suit, the USIA Techniflex is built out of our revolutionary Techniflex fabric, which allows for extreme comfort not found in traditional shell dry suits. Standard with hard or soft sole rubber boots, additional 1000 Denier Cordura knee, seat, wrist, and boot protection, and a zipper-over-zipper protection design on our front entry version, the Techniflex is also one of the toughest, most durable dry suits on the market. Available in a rear entry, diagonal front entry, and a wraparound horizontal front entry, the Techniflex fabric comes in black only, but you have a choice of many various colors and patterns as an overlay. Click for more on Techniflex

What customers say about Techniflex: “This is a very well made suit with a fabric that has a slight flex to it. Material quality and construction would put this suit up with some of the 3000 dollar suits out there. Amazing product for the money.”

“Just received my drysuit this week and finally got it in the water today and have nothing but good things to say about it. Top notch construction and quality, price can’t be beat for a custom suit and DRIS (Dive Right In Scuba) kept me in the loop with an email every week letting me know where they were at with its construction.”

Built from a lighter 200 Denier series nylon that allows for excellent mobility and comfort, the USIA Aqua Deluxe is the perfect suit for traditional sport divers. It also has 1000 Denier Cordura leg, seat, wrist, boot, and zipper covers that make the suit extremely durable in key areas. We use Si Tech™ low profile exhaust valves and rotating inflation valves. The USIA Aqua Deluxe comes standard in a diagonal front entry design and is built with integrated hard or soft sole rubber boots. Click for more on the USIA Aqua Deluxe

Actual Customer Review of Aqua Deluxe: “This is my second USIA Drysuit I have purchased…and is built extremely well. A great middle of the line suit keeps me dry and warm even in 35 degree water with a 200g thermal…I look forward to purchasing two more USIA Drysuit’s next year for my wife and I to have as backups.”

With high tenacity 400 Denier series nylon and 1000 Denier Cordura overlays on the shoulders, stomach, arms, thigh, seat, wrist and boot wraps, the USIA Aqua Pro Plus is highly rugged, industrial quality dry suit specially built for extreme conditions. The Aqua Pro Plus comes standard with your choice of attached soft or hard sole rubber boots. Also included are adjustable internal suspenders. Available in a rear entry, diagonal front entry, and a wraparound horizontal front entry, the suit can be upgraded to our Techniflex fabric. Click for more on Aqua Pro Plus.

Highly efficient and affordable, the USIA Aqua Sport is the dry suit of choice for many dive store rental departments. Built out of 200 Denier series nylon with 1000 Denier Cordura thigh protectors, USIA Aqua Sport is highly durable and has excellent reviews from customers for its attractive design and very affordable price. The suit comes standard with latex socks and is available in a rear or diagonal front entry design. This suit is only available in stock sizes. Click for more on Aqua Sport.

Customer Reviews for Aqua Sport:”This suit is paper thin and very light. It dives as well as some of the most expensive suits but may need a little care to last as long as the higher end suits. If you are learning to dive or would like to buy a suit for those occasional dry dives then this is a great buy. This is also very good for people who air travel because this suit is paper light.”

“Great dry suit option on the budget end of the price scale. Very good build quality for the $ and also extremely well fitting (even without the custom cut options).”

“This suit is AWESOME! I got it yesterday and took it out for a dive today. I did a lot of research because I wanted a drysuit I could spearfish in. The valve on the chest is far enough out of the way that I can still load my gun comfortably. I am 5″10″ 260lbs and bought the 2xl short and it fit like a glove. The wrist seals were perfect and I only had to trim 3 circle on the neck. I was worried that the neck seal would feel like it was strangling me, but the rubber on the seal is so soft you can barely feel it. This suit is made out of great material and is very sturdy but still light. Water temp was 58 and it was great to be warm and dry. With good maintenance this suit will be as good as any expensive suit on the market and it is extremely comfortable. Get a good undergarment and drysocks and you will LOVE this suit. Now I know why people that go drysuits never go back. Don’t shop anymore, buy this suit!”

Previously unavailable to the general public, USIA offers one of its bestselling bags to outdoor enthusiasts everywhere

USIA is delighted to introduce to the civilian/retail market one of our most popular Military Grade Packs, the Brush Bandit. Originally designed for use in combat situations where chemical or biological equipment needs to be transported above water, the Brush Bandit is handcrafted in the USA using only the finest materials and workmanship.
The first thing you will notice about the Brush Bandit is that it is tough. It just feels and looks tough. And it doesn’t just look tough…it is tough because it was built that way. The interior of the Brush Bandit is lined with 200D polyurethane coated nylon, which means it will take a serious beating from packing and unpacking your gear. Translation: feel free to abuse the Brush Bandit, it loves the abuse.

Adding to the robustness of the bag is the special treatment we give to the seams. All seams are heat taped and vulcanized. That way the pack is water resistant at surface levels, meaning it’s a splash bag only and not meant to be submerged. Regardless, the Brush Bandit is highly water resistant.

We provide what we call a stuff sack with the Brush Bandit. Even though the interior is built from extremely tough material, the stuff sack will help to increase its lifespan as well as help to keep the pack’s contents protected even further.

To round out the Brush Bandit’s toughness, the pack’s exterior is constructed of heavy duty, 1000D Cordura®, a fabric known for its durability and resistance to tears and abrasions.
Do you get thirsty during those long mountain treks? The Brush Bandit is hydration pack compatible, with a pouch that has enough space inside to accommodate a 100 ounce reservoir. The spacious front pocket is large enough to hold a survival kit, first aid kit, MRE containers, or an immediate reach kit.

Finally, to attain the most utility from the Brush Bandit as possible, we fitted it with a water resistant polyurethane coated zipper, meant to keep the pack’s interior and contents dry as long as it is not submerged. The Brush Bandit is a splash bag only, meaning it will resist water on the surface but is not meant to be taken to depth.

Breathable waders are common for fishing, hunting, clamming, trapping, and a host of other activities around and in the water. You might even own a pair. They can be fantastic. They can keep you cool on those sunnier days. But don’t you ever notice they are not perfectly dry?

The Old Days

Back in the day, old timers used bag waders made from thick rubber and cumbersome attached rubber boots. They were waterproof and simple to repair but were a safety hazard because of their weight and bulk. Then along came Neoprene. It is quite robust and can endure a lot of abuse, but you must take care to dry them out completely after each use otherwise mold and mildew and other factors arise. Using neoprene you start to build up sweat, and that sweat is cooled which makes you feel a little cool and clammy underneath in colder temperatures. Not fun.

Enter Breathables

Over the years, breathables have increased in popularity. Breathables are constructed from a permeable material which allows dampness to escape through the wader even while in the water. Fishermen love them because they are very light and can be worn in the hot summer without causing a perspiration issue. In addition, they can be worn in the winter with a set of sweat pants or fleece wader pants that will help keep moisture away from you and protect you from the cold water.

The Trouble with Breathables

Waders made from breathable material, while comfortable and cool, are too disposable. Breathable chest waders are very easily damaged when rubbing against thorns or rocks and extra care is required to keep them free of leaks.

Care has to be taken when putting on breathable waders so you don’t pull the stitching. This will also cause leaks. Breathable chest waders also leak when the pores become blocked by silt from the water, creating an overall cold, wet, and uncomfortable sporting experience.

Times Are Changin’

The materials used now being constructed in dry suits are much lighter and stronger than ever. Now that they are so light, flexible, and tough, many fishermen are thinking it might be time to go back to a bag wader. These waders are 100% dry. If you find a damp area, you have a hole and you can find it and fix it. Want to keep sweat from bothering you in a bag wader? Many different comfortable undergarment options are available, even for summertime use. Modern fabrics are a wonderful thing, and today thin and durable sportswear that will held keep the humidity levels down inside your waders is available. Patagonia Capilene or Silkweight undergarments are just two examples.

The bottom line: Breathables, though comfy and cool, are easily damaged, highly disposable, and not 100 percent waterproof. The only waders that will keep you completely dry while not compromising with flexibility and weight are bag wader constructed from 100% waterproof fabrics.